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MESSAGE 


OF 


MAYOR  JOHN  CORSCOT, 


DELIVERED  TO  THE 


COMMON  COUNCIL  OF  THE  CITY  OF  MADISON, 


April  17,  1894. 


A 

•.  ft.  V 


MAYOR’S  MESSAGE. 


DELIVERED  APRIL  17,  1894. 


Gentlemen  of  the  Common  Council: 

To  us  has  been  confided  for  the  coming  year  the  man¬ 
agement  of  the  business  affairs  of  the  city  of  Madison,  and 
before  entering  upon  the  discharge  of  those  duties  it  is 
proper  that  we  should  consider  the  financial  condition  of 
the  city.  Your  attention  is  therefore  respectfully  called 
to  the  Clerk’s  Statement  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures 
of  the  city  for  the  year  last  past  as  well  as  to  the  present 
condition  of  the  City  Treasury : 

The  funds  in  the  treasury  April  10,  1893,  were  as  follows : 

Poll-tax  funds .  . . .  $85  00 

Interest  on  refunding  bonds . .• .  7,625  00 

Interest  on  water  bonds .  1,600  00 

Bond  fund .  8,660  97 

Dane  county  —  fines .  451  00 

Forest  Hill  cemetery  fund .  3,339  77 

Free  Library  fund . 4,277  73 

Special  sidewalk  fund .  88  47 

Water  fund .  2,427  39 

Special  street  funds .  8,122  33 

General  fund .  12,117  93 


Total 


$48,795  59 


The  receipts  from  all  sources  from  April  10,  1893,  to  April  10,  1894, 
have  been  as  follows : 

General  Fund  Receipts. 


Liquor  licenses .  . 

Tax  for  general  city  purposes . 

Dane  county  —  one-half  expenses  municipal  court 


$17,783  01 
38,291  01 


377  05 


Billiard  licenses . . 

Licenses  to  sell  on  streets . 

Show  licenses . 

Hack  licenses . . . 

Steamboat  licenses . 

Costs  and  fees  collected  in  municipal  court . 

Fines  collected  in  city  cases,  municipal  court .  . 

Sewer  permits . 

Drainage  licenses . 

Proceeds  of  entertainments  for  the  benefit  of  the  contagious 

hospital . 

Collected  from  patients  at  hospital . 

Young  Ladies’  Missionary  Society  of  Madison,  donation  to 

city  hospital . 

Andrew  Kinnair,  payment  on  quarry  contract . 

C.  F.  Harrington,  team  bought  of  Fire  Department . 

Jas.  M.  Kelly,  use  of  steam  roller . 

Board  of  Education,  paid  for  grading . 

Village  of  Prairie  du  Sac,  old  hose  reel . . . , . 

By  Martin  Hinrichs,  Street  Superintendent,  for  stone  and 
granite  sold:  Sullivan,  $5;  McCarthy,  $106.75;  Soelch,* 

$4.36;  Miller,  $4.86 . 

By  Martin  Hinrichs,  Street  Superintendent,  from  sundry 
parties  for  removing  rubbish,  snow  or  ice,  grading  side¬ 
walks,  etc . 

Total . 

Special  Fund  Receipts. 

Board  of  Education,  tax  1893 . 

Water  fund  —  Extension  bonds  sold . 

Water  fund  —  Tax  1893  .  . 

Water  fund  —  Water  rents  collected . . . 

Water  fund  —  Water  permits  collected . 

Water  fund  —  Supplies  sold . 

Dane  county  —  State  and  county  taxes . 

Special  street  repair  fund  —  Bonds  sold . 

Bond  fund  (sinking  fund),  tax  1893 . 

Interest  on  water  bonds,  tax  1893. . .  . 

Interest  on  street  repair  bonds,  tax  1893 . 

Interest  on  refunding  bonds,  tax  1893. . . 

Dane  county  —  Fines  in  state  cases . 

Special  street  repair  fund  —  Paid  by  Madison  City  Railway 
Co.  for  macadam  between  tracks . 


$511  40 
139  00 
112  00 
90  00 
85  00 
253  05 
425  00 
40  00 
15  00 

571  47 
23  00 

27  00 
400  00 
125  00 
100  00 
180  25 
20  00 


120  97 


27  87 
$59,717  08 

$34,585  32 
10,000  00 
10,000  00 
17,633  80 
284  00 
266  65 
42,487  65 
15,000  00 
2,888  24 
1,400  00 
337  50 
7,625  00 
1,153  00 

600  00 


3 


« 


Forest  Hill  cemetery  fund,  tax  1893 .  $500  00 

Forest  Hill  cemetery  fund,  sale  of  lots,  etc .  988  61 

Free  library  fund,  tax  1893 .  2,500  00 

Free  library  fund,  fines  and  dues .  70  00 

Special  sidewalk  taxes .  1,132  93 

Special  sewer  tax .  2,002  68 

Tax  for  judgments . . .  5,705  06 

Langdon  street  special  fund,  tax,  etc .  143  91 

N.  Carroll  “  “  “  “  383  16 

Gilman  “  “  “  “  883  74 

E.  Gorham  “  “  “  “  497  35 

W.  Gorham  “  *‘  “  “  613  98 

State  “  “  “  .  738  84 

Pinckney  “  “  “  “  222  22 

S.  Carroll  “  “  “  “  (Main  to  Doty) .  67  17 

Butler  “  “  “  “  319  88 

Murray  “  “  “  “  134  88 

Lake  “  “  “  “  425  12 

Wilson  “  “  “  “  4,828  57 

Francis  “  “  “  “  792  54 

W.  Johnson  “  “  “  tax  and  bonds .  7,516  08 

E.  Johnson  “  “  “  “  “  3,700  07 

N.  Hancock  “  “  “  “  .  974  69 

N.  Butler  “  “  “  “  “  1,922  60 

Henry  “  “  “  “  “  3,511  10 

Park  “  “  “  “  “  3,180  30 

S.  Carroll  “  “  “  “  (Doty  to  Lake)  1,949  55 

Patterson  “  “  “  “  “  1,835  96 

Mendota  Court  “  “  “  “  .  758  52 

Mifflin  street  fund  —  Bonds .  2,000  00 

_ 

Total  . .  $194,560  67 


The  expenditures  from  April  10,  1893,  to  April  10,  1894,  have  been  as 


follows : 

General  Fund  Expenditures. 

Expended  for  labor  and  material  on  general  street  improve¬ 
ments,  street  cleaning,  repairs .  $12,043  30 

Street  lighting  —  Electric  light,  $6,131.75;  gas,  $2,056.50;  oil 

lamps,  $840 .  9,028  25 

Salaries  —  City  Surveyor,  $1,000 ;  Street  Superintendent, 

$1,000  .  2,000  00 

Care  and  subsistence  city  teams,  drivers'  pay,  feed,  shoeing, 
etc, 


2,360  33 


4 


Expenses  at  city  hall,  janitor,  fuel,  light,  etc . 

Printing .  . 

Expenses  prosecutions  under  city  ordinances,  judge’s  and 

clerk’s  salaries,  stationery,  blanks,  etc . 

City  Clerk’s  salary . 

City  Treasurer’s  salary . 

Legal  services,  City  Attorney’s  salary,  etc.  . 

Expenses  assessment  and  collection  of  taxes . 

Election  expenses . 

Pound  expenses . . 

Costs  in  suits .  . 

Fire  department  expenses . 

Electric  fire  alarm . 

Police  expenses . 

Health  expenses,  including  City  Hospital  expenses . 

Sewerage  repairs . 

Abating  nuisances . 

Refunded  taxes . 

Land  for  sewage  disposal  plant . . 

Payment  on  lots  bought  of  Mrs.  Mack . 

Paid  Dr.  O.  M.  Twitchell  in  settlement  . . . 

Paid  Mrs.  A.  E.  Pettengill  for  injury . 

Weed  Commissioner’s  salary . 

Paid  Samantha  Emmons  in  settlement . 

Roofing  election  booths  . . . . 

Steamboat  inspection . 

Printing  bonds . 

Expenses  at  Orton  Park . 

Special  Fund  Expendituees. 

Dane  county  —  State  and  county  taxes  . 

Board  of  Education . 

Water-works,  construction . 

Water-works,  operating  expenses . 

Water-wmrks,  repairs. . . 

Dane  county  —  State  fines . 

Water  bonds  paid  .  . 

Judgment  paid — Marcia  Reed . 

Judgment  paid  —  August  Laue . 

Special  street  repair  fund  —  Expended  for  labor  and  ma- 

I 

terial . 

Free  Library  fund  —  Vouchers  paid . 


$1,585  27 
708  77 

1,706  92 
1,200  00 
1,200  00 
975  64 
1,129  82 
795  12 
365  00 
122  00 
6,269  66 
2,691  50 
5,840  45 
4,434  06 
601  40 
17  00 
19  71 
1,620  00 
500  00 
100  00 
75  00 
52  50 
250  00 
163  25 

42  50 
23  00 
13  50 

$57,928  95 

$42,487  65 
34,585  32 
25,004  87 
9,814  44 

43  01 
1,595  00 
8,500  00 
3,387  97 
2,251  87 

12,351  54  . 
2,370  31 


Forest  Hill  cemetery  fund _ 

$1,214  42 

•Special  sidewalk  fund  - 

—  Paid  to  contractors 

731  72 

Special  sewer  tax 

—  Paid  to  contractors. .  . . 

1,871  39 

Langdon  street  special  fund  — 

Bonds  and  interest  paid 

129  20 

N.  Carroll  “ 

66 

66 

66 

-4  4 

44 

308  00 

Gilman  “ 

a 

* 66 

4  4 

U 

44 

888  00 

E.  Gorham  “ 

44 

44 

44 

44 

4k 

686  00 

W.  Gorham  “ 

u 

44 

44 

44 

44 

616  00 

State  “ 

44 

66 

■  44 

44 

.  .  -o  • 

584  00 

Pinckney  “ 

-44 

44 

66 

44 

44 

184  00 

S.  Carroll  “ 

-44 

44 

■66 

44 

44 

.  .  .  •  - 

24  00 

Butler  “ 

66 

44 

66 

44 

44 

901  23 

Murray  “ 

66 

44 

66 

44 

44 

224  50 

Lake  “ 

.66 

44 

4  4 

44 

44 

360  00 

Wilson  “ 

.66 

4» 

•  44 

44 

44 

7,793  76 

Francis  “ 

66 

.6  6 

44 

-44 

44 

1,180  10 

W.  Johnson  “ 

66 

66 

44 

44 

44 

5,444  45 

E.  Johnson  “ 

66 

44 

-4  4 

•4  4 

44 

2,655  49 

N.  Hancock  “ 

66 

4-4 

44 

44 

-44 

863  41 

N.  Butler  “ 

66 

4* 

44 

44 

44 

1,580  24 

Henry  street  special  fund — Paid  contractors. . 

2,776  10 

Park  “  “ 

44 

44 

44 

2,496  41 

•S.  Carroll  “  “ 

.44 

44 

6% 

1,797  19 

Patterson  “  “ 

44 

44 

44 

2,076  04 

Mendota  Court  “ 

•  44 

44 

44 

589  78 

Mifflin  street  “ 

4-4 

66 

44 

1,909  23 

Paid  interest  on  water 

bonds 

1,600  00 

Paid  interest  on  refunding  bonds  . 

7,625  00 

Total . . . 

$191,501  64 

Recapitulation. 


Balance  on  hand  April  10,  1893  . 

General  fund  receipts  . 

Special  fund  receipts . 

General  fund  expenditures . 

Special  fund  expenditures . 

On  hand  April  10,  1894 . 


$48,795  59 
59,717  08 
194,560  67 


$57,928  95 
191,501  64 
53,642  75 


There  was  transferred  during  the  year : 


$303,073  34  $303,073  34 


From  the  water  fund  to  the  bond  fund 
From  poll-tax  fund  to  general  fund. . .  . 


$5,000  00 
85  00 


6 


The  funds  in  the  treasury  April  10,  1894,  belong  to  funds  as  follows  r 


Interest  on  refunding  bonds . .  $7,625  00 

Interest  on  special  street  repair  bonds . . .  387  50 

Interest  on  water  bonds . .• .  1,400  0b 

Bond  fund.... . . . .  8,049  21 

Dane  county,  fines . .  170  00 

Forest  Hill  cemetery  fund . ' .  3,613  96 

Free  Library  fund .  4,477  42 

Special  sidewalk  fund .  489  68 

Special  sewer  tax  fund .  131  29 

Water  fund . 749  52 

Special  street  repair  fund .  3,248  46  * 

Special  street  funds . . 10,159  58 

General  fund . 13,191  18 

$53,642  75 


The  balance  now  in  the  general  fund  will,  it  is  estimated,  be  increased 
prior  to  the  next  tax  levy  by  receipts  from  the  following  sources : 


Liquor  licenses . $15,000  00 

Show  licenses .  150  00 

Billiard  licenses .  400  00 

Hack  licenses . 100  00 

Steamboat  licenses .  75  00 

Total  .  $15,725  00 

Adding  the  balance  now  in  the  general  fund. .  13,191  13 

Makes  the  total  amount  available  for  general 

city  purposes . $28,916  13 

The  expenses  for  the  month  of  March  for  which 
accounts  have  been  allowed  out  of  the  general 
fund  by  the  council  since  April  10th  amount 

to .  $4,877  54 

And  the  estimated  expenses  for  the  first  half  of 

April . 1,500  00 

Making  the  sum  of . $6,377  54 

To  be  deducted,  which  leaves  the  net  available  - 

amount .  $22,538  59 


As  it  requires  about  $3,000  per  month  to  pay  the  running  expenses  of 
the  city  for  the  seven  months  before  the  next  tax  becomes  available,  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  amount  available  for  general  street  improvements 
is  quite  insignificant. 


7 


The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  city  on  the  1st  day  of  April,  1894,  was : 


Watertown  Railroad  bond  (outlawed) .  $1,000  00 

Original  water  bonds . 23,500  00 

Water-works  extension  bonds .  10,000  00 

Refunding  bonds .  152,500  00 

Special  street  improvement  and  repairbonds .  65,800  00 

Board  of  Education  indebtedness .  51,000  00 

Total .  $303', 800  00 


On  the  2d  day  of  April  there  was  deposited  in  the  State  Bank  by  the 
city  $8,000  to  take  up  water  bonds  called  in  for  payment,  and  special 
street  improvement  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $4,900  have  bepn  taken  up 
and  paid  in  full  since  that  date,  leaving  the  total  indebtedness  at  this 
writing  $290,900. 

From  the  preceding  statement  it  appears  that  the  whole 
amount  of  money  available  for  general  city  purposes  prior 
to  the  next  tax  levy  will  be  $22,538.59,  of  which  $21,000 
will  be  required  to  pay  the  running  expenses  of  the  city, 
leaving  the  sum  of  $1,538.59  for  city  improvements,  which 
sum,  together  with  an  unexpended  balance  of  about  $3,500 
of  the  $15,000  borrowed  last  year,  comprises  the  whole 
amount  applicable  to  permanent  city  improvements  during 
the  present  year. 

The  tax  for  general  city  purposes  one  year  ago  was 
$39,822.04,  while  that  for  the  past  year  was  $38,291.01,  indi¬ 
cating  that  as  the  city’s  needs  increase  its  revenues  for  gen¬ 
eral  city  purposes  decrease;  and  this  is  liable  to  be  the  case 
so  long  as  the  demands  of  the  State,  County,  Board  of  Edu¬ 
cation,  interest  and  indebtedness  must  first  be  taken  care 
of,  no  matter  what  amount  is  demanded,  and  the  balance 
(whatever,  can  be  levied  within  the  two  per  cent,  author¬ 
ized  by  law)  constitutes  the  general  fund.  In  other  words, 
the  common  council  has  to  content  itself  with  so  much  of 
the  two  per  cent,  tax  as  other  needs  do  not  exact,  and  with 
that  sum  carry  on  the  city  government  as  best  it  can,  and 
make  such  improvements  as  its  limited  means  will  allow, 
patiently  waiting  for  a  natural  increase  in  the  city  valuation 


8 


of  property  or  a  diminution  of  the  annual  fixed  charges 
against  the  receipts  from  the  tax  roll. 

The  streets  of  the  city  as  a  whole  were  never  in  as  good 
condition  as  at  the  present  time,  a  fact  largely  due  to  a  lib¬ 
eral  public  policy  and  private  enterprise.  The  city  now  has 
over  twelve  miles  of  paved  streets,  and  the  good  work  still 
goes  on,  and  should  meet  our  hearty  encouragement.  In 
connection  with  street  paving  the  question  of  street  sprink¬ 
ling  at  the  expense  of  private  property  should  receive  at¬ 
tention,  as  it  is  believed  more  advantageous  rates  could  be 
obtained  by  the  city  than  by  private  individuals,  and  a 
majority  or  two-thirds  of  the  property  owners  on  any  street 
should  have  the  power  through  the  common  council  to  re¬ 
quire  their  less  enterprising  neighbors  to  render  pecuniary 
aid  in  contributing  to  the  general  comfort.  No  good  reason 
seems  to  exist  why  the  common  council  should  not  order 
and  contract  for  the  sprinkling  of  the  streets  in  the  same 
manner  as  sidewalks  are  ordered  constructed  and  repaired. 

An  examination  of  the  sidewalks  in  the  citv  will  bear  out 
the  statement  that  the  walks  were  never  in  better  condi¬ 
tion  generally  than  at  the  present  time,  and  that  they  may 
be  kept  so  will  require  the  diligent  efforts  of  the  proper 
city  officers,  and  the  hearty  aid  and  co-operation  of  citizens 
and  tax-payers.  The  necessity  of  keeping  sidewalks  in  re¬ 
pair  should  be  impressed  upon  the  mind  of  every  freeholder, 
for  at  no  time  in  municipal  history  has  the  occupation  of 
seeking  cause  for  damages  against  cities  been  in  a  more 
apparently  healthy  and  flourishing  condition,  here  and  else¬ 
where,  than  within  the  past  few  years,  and  the  constant 
care  and  watchfulness  of  city  officers,  and  the  tax-payers 
who  are  called  to  pa}r  these  damages,  should  be  exercised  in 
limiting  the  field  of  this  growing  occupation. 

One  year  ago  attention  was  called  to  the  necessity  of  tak¬ 
ing  the  sewage  of  the  city  out  of  the  lakes  and  disposing 
of  it  in  some  other  way  than  fouling  the  waters  within  the 


i 


9 


city  limits.  The  last  council  had  plans  prepared  for  con¬ 
ducting-  the  sewage  from  the  lake  ends  of  the  present  sew¬ 
ers  to  a  point  beyond  the  Yahara  river,  where  chemical 
purification  is  contemplated,  and  where  grounds  for  precip¬ 
itation  works  were  purchased  by  our  predecessors.  The 
plans  for  this  needed  improvement  are  on  file  for  your  ex¬ 
amination,  and  it  is  urged  that  the  proper  committee  and 
the  council  give  to  this  subject  the  prompt  attention  which 
its  merits  demand,  and  that  an  early  beginning  be  made  in 
the  effort  to  restore  and  preserve  the  purity  and  healthful¬ 
ness  of  the  waters  surrounding  the  city. 

The  public  school  accommodations  have  been  increased 
the  past  year  by  doubling  the  capacity  of  the  Third  ward 
building,  which  has  relieved  to  a  marked  degree  the  over¬ 
crowded  condition  of  many  of  the  other  ward-school  build¬ 
ings.  A  new  eight-room  building  is  now  in  course  of  con¬ 
struction  in  the  Sixth  ward.  This  is  an  improvement  long 
needed,  and  when  completed  will  be  the  finest  and  most 
complete  ward-school  building  in  the  city.  For  these  im¬ 
provements  funds  were  borrowed  from  the  State,  and  the 
annual  instalments  of  tax  levied  to  pay  principal  and  in¬ 
terest  of  these  loans  curtails  to  that  extent  the  amount  of 
money  coming  into  the  general  fund;  but  as  the  money  is 
spent  in  educating  the  future  citizens  of  Madison,  we  of 
to-day  should  take  pride  in  being  able  to  contribute  toward 
the  preparation  of  those  who  will  soon  take  our  places,  and 
who  by  our  liberality  will  be  better  equipped  to  do  the 
work  they  will  be  called  on  to  perform. 

The  attendance  on  the  public  schools  seems  to  be  increas¬ 
ing,  indicating  the  high  favor  in  which  the  schools  are  held 
as  well  as  the  steady  growth  of  the  city. 

The  Free  City  Library  in  an  unobtrusive  way  continues 
to  aid  and  supplement  the  work  of  the  schools,  and  affords 
a  pleasant  and  instructive  resort  for  young  and  old  in  leis¬ 
ure  hours.  The  means  set  apart  for  its  maintenance  and 


10 


extension  seem  inadequate,  and  should  be  increased  if  pos¬ 
sible. 

The  city  water  system  is  steadily  increasing  in  patronage. 
The  water  takers  October  1st  last  numbered  1,701,  and  the 
total  cost  of  the  works  to  that  date  was  $271,435.96.  The 
receipts  for  water  rents  and  permits  for  the  year  ending 
October  1, 1893,  were  $16,499.70,  and  the  operating  expenses 
during  the  same  period  were  $10,458.79.  Inasmuch  as  the 
city  is  now  well  provided  with  fire  hydrants,  water  mains 
should  not  be  laid  except  in  places  where  sufficient  number 
of  consumers  can  be  obtained  to  pay  interest  on  the  invest¬ 
ment  ;  and  it  is  believed  that  the  water  rents  should  pay  the 
operating  expenses  and  all  needed  extensions  without  an¬ 
nual  taxation.  Two  new  wells  were  added  to  the  system 
the  past  year,  making  ten  in  all,  and  it  is  believed  that  the 
water  supply  will  be  sufficient  for  the  next  four  or  five 
years  unless  wastefully  used. 

The  Fire  Department  has  during  the  past  year  been  sup¬ 
plied  with  the  Gamewell  fire-alarm  system  and  additional 
hose,  and  is  in  fine  working  condition.  Every  citizen  feels 
pride  in  the  harmony  prevailing  among  companies,  officers 
and  members,  and  in  the  promptness  with  which  calls  to 
duty  are  responded  to.  Every  reasonable  demand  to  pre¬ 
serve  its  efficiency  and  extend  its  usefulness  should  be 
cheerfully  met. 

In  conclusion,  I  trust  that  harmony  and  good  feeling  will 
characterize  our  meetings  during  the  coming  year,  and  that 
in  the  discharge  of  our  respective  duties  we  shall  be  ani¬ 
mated  to  serve  the  people  to  the  best  of  our  abilities. 

JOHN  CORSCOT. 


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